NINE members of a hole-in-the-wall gang who stole tens of thousands of pounds from cash machines were today jailed for a total of 22 years.

The raiders struck at least nine times in two years at locations across the north of England and in Scotland and sparked a nationwide police manhunt.

But thousands of hours of painstaking detective work paid off today when every member of the County Durham-based criminal gang was locked up.

Judge George Moorhouse told the men: "These offences are so serious that only a custodial sentence can be justified.

"Over a two year period some of you embarked on a highly organised professional system of trying to steal or stealing ATM machines.

"There were nine such attacks, six of which were successful. The total sum of £350,000 in cash was taken.

"The machines which were damaged had a value of £90,000. Over £120,000 damage was caused to the fabric of the buildings in which the machines were housed."

The suspects had been due to stand trial at Teesside Crown Court this week, but last month they admitted their parts in the thefts and burglaries.

The dramatic twist came after hours of discussions between prosecuting barristers and legal teams acting for the members of the gang.

Appearing in the dock today were: Carl Fitzgerald, 23, of The Crescent, High Etherley, Bishop Auckland; Michael Smith, 27, of Albion Terrace Bishop Auckland; Stuart Henderson, 43, of Douglas Villas, Durham; Brian Thexton, 31, Carl Thexton, 29, Joseph Sexton, 42, and Ronald Thexton, 24, all of Park Road, Bishop Auckland; Brett Simpson, 24, of Ashcroft Gardens, Bishop Auckland, and Malcolm Readman, 26, of Lambton Street, Middlesbrough.

Brian Thexton, Ronald Thexton and Joseph Sexton all admitted conspiracy to burgle commercial premises between January 1, 2005 and November 4, 2006.

All three men accepted responsibility for raids on ATM machines in Langholm, Dumfries and Galloway, and a service station cashpoint near Burton, Lancashire.

Ronald Thexton also confessed to a raid at Ingleton, North Yorkshire, and admitted, along with Brian Thexton to stealing a machine at Langley Moor, Durham, and along with Joseph Sexton, one in Carnforth, Lancashire.

Brian Thexton accepted his part in the theft of a machine from Kirkby Lonsdale, North Yorkshire, and, along with Joseph Sexton, a raid at Moffat in Dumfries and Galloway.

Henderson pleaded guilty to the attempted theft of a cash machine containing £64,000 from the Co-op in Ormiston, East Lothian, and assisting an offender after the theft of £80,000 from an ATM at a garage in Escrick, North Yorkshire.

Fitzgerald admitted conspiracy to steal between February 5 and 8, 2005, a cash machine containing £39,000 from the Langholm Co-op, and, along with Carl Thexton, an ATM with £52,000 from the Tesco store in Carnforth.

Smith pleaded guilty to the theft of the machine and £26,000 from the Somerfield store in Langley Moor.

As well as the Carnforth raid, Carl Thexton admitted handling a stolen mini-digger and trailer between November 27 and 30, 2005.

Readman pleaded guilty to the attempted theft of an ATM from the Co-op in Moffat between February 27 and March 12.

Simpson admitted his part in the theft of the cashpoint machine containing £52,000 from the Tesco store in Carnforth.